Alexa Keramidas, PhD
Alexa (ah-LEX-ah) is a licensed clinical psychologist who earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and completed her master’s and Ph.D. in counseling psychology at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. She has extensive experience working with college students through her doctoral internship at University Health Services at UW Madison and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Counseling Center. Known for her warm and friendly therapeutic style, Alexa strives to develop a mutual understanding of each client in their unique context, including the role of systems, culture, and identities in shaping their strengths and struggles.
As a White, cisgender therapist, Alexa recognizes that the trust of clients who hold marginalized identities must be earned, and she does not take for granted the vulnerability involved in reaching out and sharing vulnerably with somebody new. She strives to create a space where clients across the spectrums of race, gender, sexuality, and body size feel seen, heard, and empowered. Above all, she values building a genuine, trusting relationship where clients feel safe enough to show up authentically, even in moments when that may feel especially messy or vulnerable.
Alexa works with individuals navigating anxiety, perfectionism, impostor syndrome, women’s issues, relationship challenges, self-confidence, and body image concerns. She also supports clients experiencing mild disordered eating, using a Health at Every Size® (HAES) approach. She emphasizes self-compassion, self-discovery, and empowerment in her work, with the hope that through the therapeutic process, clients can begin to offer themselves the same compassion that they so readily extend to their loved ones. Central to Alexa’s approach is the belief that many of our “symptoms” are coping strategies that once helped us survive traumatic circumstances, such as abusive relationships, oppression, poverty, or other hardships, even if those coping strategies may no longer serve us once our circumstances change. She supports clients in honoring how these patterns once protected them while also creating space to explore new ways to approach challenges.
As a relational, strengths-based therapist, Alexa brings warmth, curiosity, and collaboration into her work. Previous clients have remarked that she is quite easy to talk to and that therapy with her feels validating, deeply compassionate, and engaging; like confiding in a close friend. In sessions, Alexa invites clients to explore early experiences where these patterns may have formed, with close attention to the impact of intersecting identities and marginalized experiences, such as racism, fatphobia, misogyny, immigration, and ableism, on mental health. Alongside this exploration of the past, she emphasizes the importance of fully experiencing present-moment emotions to uncover the insight they offer and build new ways forward.
Outside of work, Alexa is a proud cat parent. She enjoys cooking, dancing, running to music, exploring new restaurants and coffee shops, and relaxing with a good TV show.
If you'd like to learn more about Alexa before booking, you can also view her profile on Therapy Road.
“Oftentimes, the issues or patterns that can leave us feeling broken were actually essential to our survival in environments where we struggled to get our needs met. Therapy is a space where we can honor our past ways of coping, while creating space for new approaches that may better serve us.”
